JP7289077B2 - Electrolyzed water generator - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to an electrolyzed water generator.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, development of electrolyzed water generators that receive raw water and generate electrolyzed water such as ozonized water has been carried out. A conventional electrolyzed water generator includes an anode, a cathode, and a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode. In addition, the conventional electrolyzed water generator includes a housing that has an inlet for inflow of water and an outlet for outflow of water, and contains an anode, a cathode, and a cation exchange membrane. Further, the conventional electrolyzed water generator includes two power supply shafts electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively, and extending in a predetermined direction so as to pass through the two through-holes of the housing.

JP 2017-176993 A

In the conventional electrolyzed water generator described above, electrolyzed water can be favorably generated by arranging the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane in an appropriate positional relationship. However, if the positional relationship between the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane is displaced, the electrolyzed water generation performance may deteriorate. Therefore, it is required to maintain an appropriate positional relationship between the anode, cathode, and cation exchange membrane.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyzed water generator capable of reducing the possibility of displacement of the anode, cathode, and cation exchange membrane.

In order to solve the above problems, the electrolyzed water generator of the first aspect of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, and water flowing into a housing having an inflow port and an outflow port through which the water flows out, and containing the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane; and electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively. and two power supply shafts extending in predetermined directions so as to pass through the two through-holes, respectively, wherein the power supply shafts and the through-holes respectively compensate for the positional deviation of the power-supply shafts with respect to the through-holes in the predetermined direction. It includes an engaging portion and an engaged portion that constrainingly engage each other.

The electrolyzed water generator of the second aspect of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, an inlet for inflow of water, and an outflow of water. a housing enclosing the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane; and a housing electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively, passing through two through holes of the housing. and two power supply shafts extending in a predetermined direction, wherein the power supply shaft and the through hole mutually suppress rotation of the power supply shaft with respect to the through hole about the predetermined direction as a rotation axis. It includes a mating mating portion and a mated portion.

The electrolyzed water generator of the third aspect of the present disclosure includes an anode, a cathode, a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode, an inlet into which water flows, and a water outflow. a housing enclosing the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane; and a housing electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively, passing through two through holes of the housing. and a spring portion connecting each of the anode and the cathode to the power supply shaft.

According to the electrolyzed water generator of the first aspect of the present disclosure, positional deviation of the anode, cathode, and cation exchange membrane in the predetermined direction in which the power supply shaft extends can be suppressed.

According to the electrolyzed water generator of the second aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane in the rotation direction with the predetermined direction in which the power supply shaft extends as the rotation center axis. .

According to the electrolyzed water generator of the third aspect of the present disclosure, even if a load is applied to the power supply shaft, the spring portion absorbs the positional deviation of the power supply shaft based on the load. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positional deviation from adversely affecting at least one of the anode and the cathode.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrolyzed water generator according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view cut along the width direction of the electrolyzed water generator of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing the positional relationship among the cathode, spring portion, and power supply shaft of the electrolyzed water generator of the embodiment; It is an enlarged view of the first perspective cross-section of the power supply shaft of the electrolyzed water generator of the embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the 2nd perspective cross section of the electric power feeding shaft of the electrolyzed water generator of embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing the positional relationship between the anode, spring portion, and power supply shaft of another example of the electrolyzed water generator of the embodiment;

Hereinafter, the electrolyzed water generating system of each embodiment and the electrolyzed water generating device used therein will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following multiple embodiments, even if there are some differences in shape on the drawings, parts with the same reference numerals have the same function unless otherwise specified. do.

In the present embodiment, the electrolyzed water generator 100 is an ozonated water generator that generates ozonated water as electrolyzed water. Since ozonated water is effective for sterilization or decomposition of organic matter, it is used in the water treatment, food, or medical fields, and has the advantages of low persistence and no generation of by-products. ing.

In this specification, the X direction in FIG. 1 is the direction along the water flow path and is called the water flow direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generator 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose longitudinal direction is the X direction. The Y direction in FIG. 1 is the direction across the water flow path and is called the width direction. The Y direction shall be the direction along the horizontal plane. The Z direction in FIG. 1 is the direction in which electrodes and conductive films are stacked, and is called the stacking direction. In FIG. 1 , the up-down direction is shown as the Z direction with the lid 2 of the electrolyzed water generator 100 positioned on the upper side. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are not limited to the combination of directions shown in FIG. 1, and the electrolyzed water generator 100 may be provided in any posture.

However, the electrolyzed water generator 100 of the embodiment is desirably incorporated in another device in such a posture that the flow path extends along the vertical direction. More specifically, the electrolyzed water generator 100 is preferably incorporated into another apparatus in such a posture that the inlet Fin faces downward and the outlet Fout faces upward. In other words, the attitude of the electrolyzed water generator 100 is preferably set so that water flows upward from below. The reason for this is that it is preferable to quickly separate the ozone from the surface of the anode A before the ozone generated on the surface of the anode A undergoes bubble growth. That is, when the inlet Fin faces downward and the outlet faces upward, the ozone quickly leaves the surface of the anode A due to buoyancy. According to this, ozone is suppressed from remaining in a bubble state, and becomes easier to dissolve in water, thereby improving the efficiency of generating ozonated water. However, the electrolyzed water generating device 100 may be incorporated in another device in any posture other than the posture in which the flow path extends along the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generator 100 includes an anode A composed of a feeder F and an anode body AM, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. , is equipped with In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the anode A is composed of the anode body AM and the feeder F. However, the anode A may be composed of one material, and may be composed of three or more materials. may be

The feeder F, the anode body AM, the cation exchange membrane I, and the cathode C constitute a laminate structure 4 . The feeder F, the anode body AM, the ion exchange membrane, and the cathode C all have a flat plate shape. The flat plate shape has a rectangular planar shape with the longitudinal direction in the X direction, that is, the water flow direction, and the lateral direction in the Y direction, that is, the width direction, and the thickness in the Z direction, that is, the stacking direction. ing. The feeder F, the anode main body AM, the cation exchange membrane I, and the cathode C are stacked in this order from bottom to top in the Z direction.

The cathode C has a V-shaped through hole in plan view. The cation exchange membrane I is provided with a plurality of through holes in a direction transverse to the direction of water flow. The cathode C has a V-shaped through hole in plan view. The cation exchange membrane I is provided with a plurality of through holes in a direction transverse to the direction of water flow. Ozone is generated in the through-holes of the cathode C and the through-holes of the cation exchange membrane I and dissolves in the water in the container part 1 . Ozonated water is thereby generated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrolyzed water generator 100 of this embodiment includes a housing 5. As shown in FIG. The housing 5 has an inlet Fin through which water flows in and an outlet Fout through which water flows out, and contains an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I. The housing 5 includes a container portion 1 that receives the feeder F, the anode A, the cathode C, and the cation exchange membrane I, and the lid portion 2 that closes the opening of the container portion 1 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elastic body 3 is placed on the bottom of container portion 1 . Laminated structure 4 is placed on elastic body 3 . The lid portion 2 is fixed to the upper surface of the container portion 1 so as to press the laminated structure 4 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 5 includes positioning recesses T that fit with the protrusions P of the external device 200 . Therefore, the electrolyzed water generator 100 can be easily positioned with respect to the external device 200 . In this embodiment, the positioning recess T is provided in the lid portion 2 . Therefore, the container part 1 having the positioning recess T can be formed while suppressing the decrease in strength caused by the positioning recess T. However, the positioning concave portion T may be provided in the container portion 1 . Further, the electrolyzed water generator 100 may have a positioning protrusion instead of the positioning recess T, and may have a recess instead of the protrusion P of the external device 200 . That is, the positioning concave portion T and the convex portion P may be replaced with any shape as long as they are shapes that fit together.

The external device 200 has claws 201 hanging down from its outer edge. The electrolyzed water generator 100 is inserted between the claws 201 of the external device 200 so that the claws 201 of the external device 200 are hooked under the flange 12 extending outward from the upper end of the container 1. . Thereby, the electrolyzed water generator 100 is fixed to the external device 200 . Note that the external device 200 is a device that uses the electrolyzed water generated by the electrolyzed water generator 100, such as ozone water.

The lid portion 2 includes a thin portion 21 having a relatively small thickness and a thick portion 22 having a relatively large thickness. The positioning recess T is provided in the thick portion 22 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the strength of the lid portion 2 from decreasing. The positioning recess T is a groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the lid 2 . Therefore, the electrolyzed water generator 100 can be stably positioned with respect to the convex portion P of the external device 200 .

The lid portion 2 contains a laser transmissive resin having a color through which the laser light is relatively easily transmitted. The container part 1 contains a laser-absorbing resin of a color that relatively easily absorbs laser light. The thin portion 21 is irradiated with a laser beam from the upper side of the lid portion 2 in the Z direction. Thereby, the laser light transmitted through the thin portion 21 heats the lower surface of the thin portion 21 of the lid portion 2 and the upper surface of the container portion 1 . As a result, in this embodiment, the thin portion 21 of the lid portion 2 and the container portion 1 are fixed to each other by laser resin welding. According to this, the lid part 2 and the container part 1 can be easily fixed. Note that the container part 1 has a black color or a color close to it, and the lid part 2 has a transparent or white color or a color close to it.

Further, in the thin portion 21 of the lid portion 2 , the container convex portion 11 is inserted into a groove formed in the lid portion 2 . Therefore, the lid portion 2 and the container portion 1 can be firmly fixed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the anode A is electrically connected to a power supply shaft AS for the anode A. As shown in FIG. The anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A are connected via the spring portion B for the anode A. A power supply shaft AS for the anode A is inserted into a through hole 1A provided in the bottom surface of the container portion 1 . A portion of the power supply shaft AS for the anode A protruding outside the container part 1 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the power supply part.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cathode C is electrically connected to a power supply shaft CS for the cathode C. As shown in FIG. The cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C are connected via the spring portion B for the cathode C. As shown in FIG. A power supply shaft CS for the cathode C is inserted into a through hole 1C provided in the bottom surface of the container portion 1 . A portion of the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C protruding outside the container 1 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the power supply unit.

A portion of the power supply shaft AS for the anode A protruding outside the container 1 and a portion of the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C protruding outside the container 1 are respectively provided with an O-ring O, a washer W, a washer S, and a It is inserted into the hex nut N. As a result, the feeder F, the anode A, the cation exchange membrane I, and the cathode C, which constitute the laminated structure 4, can be fixed by tightening the hexagonal nut N.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the electrolyzed water generator 100 is electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and is oriented in a predetermined direction so as to pass through two through holes 1A and 1C of the housing 5, respectively. It has two extending feed shafts AS, CS. The power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C are respectively provided with an engaging portion SE and an engaged portion SE that engage with each other so as to suppress positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS, CS with respect to the through holes 1A, 1C in a predetermined direction. Contains Part 1E. According to this, it is possible to suppress deviation in the predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS and CS extend, that is, in the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the engagement portion SE is a stepped projection in which the diameters of the power supply shafts AS and CS are smaller on the outside of the housing 5 than on the inside of the housing 5 . Specifically, each of the feed shaft AS and the feed shaft CS has a relatively large diameter and a relatively smaller diameter than the first shaft portion extending along the predetermined direction. and a second shaft portion extending along a predetermined direction. The first shaft portion extends inwardly from the bottom portion of housing 5 and the second shaft portion extends outwardly from the bottom portion of housing 5 . The engaging portion SE is constituted by a stepped projection between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion.

The engaged portion 1E is a stepped through hole in which the diameters of the through holes 1A and 1C on the outside of the housing 5 are smaller than those on the inside of the housing 5 . Specifically, each of the through holes 1A and 1C has a relatively large diameter and is relatively smaller than the first through hole portion extending along the predetermined direction. and a second through hole portion having a diameter and extending along a predetermined direction. The first through-hole portion is provided inside the bottom surface of the housing 5 , and the second through-hole portion is provided outside the bottom surface of the housing 5 . The engaged portion 1E is configured by a stepped through hole between the first through hole portion and the second through hole portion.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, in the electrolyzed water generator 100, the power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C respectively include a fitting portion SF and a fitted portion 1F that are fitted to each other. . As a result, it is possible to suppress rotation of the power supply shaft AS with respect to the through hole 1A and rotation of the power supply shaft CS with respect to the through hole 1C. That is, it is possible to suppress the rotation of each of the power supply shafts AS and CS in a predetermined direction.

In the present embodiment, the fitting portion SF is an outer planar portion of each of the power supply shafts AS and CS extending along a predetermined direction, and the fitted portion 1F is a through hole extending along a predetermined direction. It is each inner plane part of 1A and 1C. Therefore, each of the fitting portion SF and the fitted portion 1F can be easily formed. However, the fitting portion SF and the fitted portion 1F may have any shape as long as they are fitted to each other to suppress rotation of the power supply shaft AS and the power supply shaft CS in a predetermined direction. may have.

The electrolyzed water generator 100 includes two spring portions B that connect the anode A and the cathode C to the power supply shafts AS and CS. The spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation between the anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A and the positional deviation between the cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C. Therefore, even if a load is applied to the power supply shafts AS and CS, the spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS and CS based on the load. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of adverse effects on

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the spring portion B has a spiral shape so as to revolve around a predetermined direction as the central axis of rotation. Therefore, the spring portion B more effectively absorbs the positional deviation between the anode A and the power supply shaft AS for the anode A, and the positional deviation between the cathode C and the power supply shaft CS for the cathode C. As a result, adverse effects on at least one of the anode A and the cathode C due to the misalignment can be suppressed more effectively.

The spring portion B may have any shape, for example, a shape as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the two spring portions B are integrally formed with the cathode C and the anode A, respectively. may be fixed to

The electrolyzed water generator 100 of the embodiment is an ozone water generator that generates ozone water, but the substance to be generated is not limited to ozone. For example, the electrolyzed water generator may exhibit a sterilizing action by generating hypochlorous acid. Further, the electrolyzed water generator may generate oxygen water, hydrogen water, chlorine-containing water, hydrogen peroxide water, or the like.

The anode A of the electrolyzed water generator 100 of the present embodiment can generate electrolyzed water such as conductive silicon, conductive diamond, titanium, platinum, lead oxide, or tantalum oxide, and has conductivity and durability. It may be composed of any material as long as it has. For example, the anode body AM is made of conductive diamond and the feeder F is made of titanium. Further, when the anode A is a diamond electrode, the method of manufacturing the anode A is not limited to the manufacturing method by film formation, and materials other than metal may be used.

The cathode C may be an electrode having conductivity and durability, and may be made of, for example, platinum, titanium, stainless steel, or conductive silicon.

The electrolyzed water generator 100 of the present embodiment can be used by being attached to a device for increasing the concentration of electrolyzed water generated in an electrolyzed liquid. The devices include, for example, water treatment equipment such as water purifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, hot water washing toilet seats, refrigerators, hot water supply equipment, sterilizers, medical equipment, air conditioners, kitchen equipment, and the like.

Hereinafter, the characteristic configuration of the electrolyzed water generator 100 of the embodiment and the effects obtained thereby will be described.

(1) The electrolyzed water generator 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generator 100 has an inlet Fin through which water flows in and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generator 100 is electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and has two power supply shafts AS and CS extending in a predetermined direction so as to pass through two through holes 1A and 1C of a housing 5, respectively. there is The power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C are respectively provided with an engaging portion SE and an engaged portion SE that engage with each other so as to suppress positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS, CS with respect to the through holes 1A, 1C in a predetermined direction. Contains Part 1E. According to this, positional deviation in the predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS and CS extend can be suppressed.

(2) The power supply shafts AS and CS have a relatively large diameter and a first shaft portion extending along a predetermined direction, and a relatively smaller diameter than the first shaft portion and a predetermined and a second shaft portion extending along the direction. An engaging portion is configured by a stepped projection between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion. The through holes 1A and 1C have a relatively large diameter and a first through hole portion extending along a predetermined direction, and a relatively smaller diameter than the first through hole portion and extending in a predetermined direction. and a second through hole portion extending along. A stepped through-hole between the first through-hole portion and the second through-hole portion constitutes the engaged portion. According to this, the power supply shafts AS, CS and the through holes 1A, 1C can be easily formed.

(3) The electrolyzed water generator 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generator 100 has an inlet Fin through which water flows in and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generator 100 is electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and has two power supply shafts AS and CS extending in a predetermined direction so as to pass through two through holes 1A and 1C of a housing 5, respectively. there is In the electrolyzed water generator 100, the power supply shafts AS and CS and the through holes 1A and 1C are fitted to each other so as to suppress rotation of the power supply shafts AS and CS about the through holes 1A and 1C with rotation axes in a predetermined direction. It includes mating mating portion SF and mating portion 1F. According to this, rotation around the predetermined direction in which the power supply shafts AS and CS extend can be suppressed.

(4) The fitting portion SF is an outer planar portion of the power supply shafts AS and CS extending along a predetermined direction, and the fitted portion 1F is an inner planar portion of the through holes 1A and 1C extending along a predetermined direction. may be a part. According to this, the fitting portion SF and the fitted portion 1F can be easily formed.

(5) The electrolyzed water generator 100 includes an anode A, a cathode C, and a cation exchange membrane I provided between the anode A and the cathode C. The electrolyzed water generator 100 has an inlet Fin through which water flows in and an outlet Fout through which water flows out. The electrolyzed water generator 100 is electrically connected to an anode A and a cathode C, respectively, and has two power supply shafts AS and CS extending in a predetermined direction so as to pass through two through holes 1A and 1C of a housing 5, respectively. there is The electrolyzed water generator 100 includes two spring portions B that connect the anode A and the cathode C to the power supply shafts AS and CS. According to this, even if a load is applied to the power supply shafts AS, CS, the spring portion B absorbs the positional deviation of the power supply shafts AS, CS based on the load. Therefore, at least one of the anode A and the cathode C is prevented from being adversely affected by the misalignment.

(6) The spring portion B may have a spiral shape so as to revolve around a predetermined direction as a central axis of rotation. According to this, it is possible to more effectively prevent the positional deviation from adversely affecting at least one of the anode A and the cathode C.

Reference Signs List 1A, 1C Through hole 1E Engaged portion 1F Fitted portion 5 Housing 100 Electrolyzed water generator A Anode AS Power supply shaft (power supply shaft for anode)
B spring portion C cathode CS power supply shaft (power supply shaft for cathode)
I: Cation exchange membrane Fin: Inlet Fout: Outlet SE Engaging portion SF Fitting portion

Claims (6)

an anode;
a cathode;
a cation exchange membrane provided between the anode and the cathode;
a housing having an inlet for inflow of water and an outlet for outflow of the water, and containing the anode, the cathode, and the cation exchange membrane;
two power supply shafts electrically connected to the anode and the cathode, respectively, and extending in a predetermined direction so as to pass through two through-holes of the housing;
and two spring portions connecting the anode and the cathode, respectively, and the power supply shaft,
The electrolyzed water generator, wherein the spring portion absorbs positional deviation between the anode and the cathode and the power supply shaft . 2. The power supply shaft and the through hole each include an engaging portion and an engaged portion that engage with each other so as to suppress displacement of the power supply shaft with respect to the through hole in the predetermined direction. The electrolyzed water generator described . The power supply shaft has a relatively large diameter and extends along the predetermined direction, and has a relatively smaller diameter than the first shaft portion and extends along the predetermined direction. a second shaft portion extending along;
The engagement portion is configured by a stepped projection between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion,
The through hole has a relatively large diameter and a first through hole portion extending along the predetermined direction, and a relatively smaller diameter than the first through hole portion, and the predetermined a second through hole portion extending along a direction;
The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 2 , wherein the engaged portion is configured by a stepped through-hole between the first through-hole portion and the second through-hole portion. The power supply shaft and the through hole each include a fitting portion and a fitted portion that are fitted to each other so as to suppress rotation of the power supply shaft with respect to the through hole with the predetermined direction as a rotation axis . 4. The electrolyzed water generator according to any one of 1 to 3 . the fitting portion is an outer planar portion of the power supply shaft extending along the predetermined direction;
The electrolyzed water generator according to claim 4 , wherein the fitted portion is an inner planar portion of the through hole extending along the predetermined direction. The electrolyzed water generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spring portion has a spiral shape so as to revolve around the predetermined direction as a central axis of rotation.

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